Australian travellers have been rewarded with record-high exchange rates throughout September for a bunch of hot travel destinations, including Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, and Canada. 

So, if you’re planning to hop around Southeast Asia or road trip through Canada and the United States, now is the perfect time to grab your foreign currency while the exchange rates are swinging in our favour. 

Here’s a snapshot of which currencies hit a record high against the AUD: 

• AUD to Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) hit its best since October 2021
• AUD to Vietnamese Dong (VND) was the hottest it’s been since June 2021
• AUD to Japanese Yen (JPY) hit a 9-month high this month
• AUD to New Zealand Dollar (NZD) was the highest it's been since October 2022
• AUD to Canadian Dollar (CAD) was at its best since November 2024
• AUD to United States Dollar (USD) peaked for the first time since October 2024

How much was the AUD worth in September?

Let’s dive a little deeper into how high each of these top currencies peaked in September and what that meant for the humble Australian Dollar. 

It's important to note that when discussing these exchange rates, we've used the market rate, which is the perceived value between two economies, and is different from the retail rate available to us travellers. Like the market rate, the retail exchange rate fluctuates every half hour, so it's vital to check with your foreign exchange consultant before swapping your currency. 

AUD to Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) in September 

As of September 24th, the market rate of the Indonesian Rupiah soared to 11,049 IDR per AUD. 

For example, if you exchanged $1,000 AUD worth of IDR when it peaked in September, that would give an extra 542,000 rupiah more than the 2025 average – worth almost $50 Aussie bucks! 

Since you can grab a tasty Bali meal for about $5, that extra cash goes a long way! Think sunset cocktails and a new Bintang to make your mates jealous. 

AUD to Vietnamese Dong (VND) in September 

The Vietnamese Dong reached a new high in mid-September, with the market rate peaking at 17,627 VND per AUD. 

Using the same example of exchanging $1,000 AUD worth of VND, you would have walked away with almost 1,000,000 VND more than the 2025 average. That equals about $56 in AUD, or 40 extra bánh mì if we’re talking about food (we always are). 

AUD to Japanese Yen (JPY) in September 

While you’re travelling through Asia, you can’t miss Japan! Especially while the AUD to Yen exchange rate is hot. In mid-September, the market rate for Japanese Yen hit 98.2486 JPY per AUD. 

If you exchanged $1,000 AUD worth of JPY during the September high, that would give an extra 3,463.60 JPY more than the 2025 average, which is around $35 AUD! 

That extra Yen goes a long way – we’re talking 4-6 extra convenience store meals from 7-Eleven or Lawsons! 

AUD to New Zealand Dollar (NZD) in September 

Let’s turn our attention to our little cousins across the Tasman! On September 24th, the New Zealand Dollar skyrocketed to $1.13287 per AUD. 

So, if you exchanged $1,000 AUD, you would’ve received $22.80 NZD more than if you exchanged against the average for 2025. That comes to about $20.40 AUD – enough to cover a handful of fridge magnets to take home. 

AUD to Canadian Dollar (CAD) in September 

During mid-September, the market rate for the Canadian Dollar peaked at $0.92167 for every AUD. Let’s see how that weighs up in our example scenario. 

If you had exchanged $1,000 AUD worth of CAD at its highest point in September, that would have meant $25.97 CAD more than the 2025 average. In Aussie dollars, that comes to roughly $28 AUD. 
That would cover an extra 2 or 3 famous Canadian maple syrup bottles from a local market – not bad! 

AUD to United States Dollar (USD) in September 

A hop, skip, and a jump down from Canada to the United States. Around mid-September, the United States Dollar reached $0.668547 USD per AUD. 

Looking at our example, if you exchanged $1,000 AUD worth of USD during the September high, that would mean $28.10 USD more than the average for 2025, worth around $42 AUD! 

What to do with that extra USD? Well, the average New York pizza costs around $3-4 USD per slice, so you do the math! 

There you have it, travellers! September has been a generous month when it comes to exchanging Australian dollars for foreign currency. Even if your next trip is a while away, it’s always a smart idea to sort your currency early while the exchange rates are working in your favour. 

Pop in and see us in store to grab your foreign cash, or order online with same-day delivery or easy click and collect.

^Disclaimers

^{*Please remember that exchange rates fluctuate frequently, and readers should verify current rates before making any financial decisions.}

^{*Rates and calculations using mid-market rate from Google Finance at 3PM AEST 25 SEPTEMBER 2025- subject to change. The rates used in the calculations are based on the market rate for consistency across historical data, not retail rates available to the public. Retail rates are subject to change, and online rates are not available in-store. This blog is provided for information only and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation, or needs.  You should consider whether the information and suggestions contained in any blog entry are appropriate for you, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation, and needs.  While we take reasonable care in providing the blog, we give no warranties or representations that it is complete or accurate or is appropriate for you.  We are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise, arising from use of, or reliance on, the information and/or suggestions contained in this blog.}